Metal Coat is one of the most important evolution items in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. It is required to evolve Scyther into Scizor and Onix into Steelix, both through trade while they are holding the item. Metal Coat is also locked behind late-game progress, which is why so many players hit a wall with their favorite Steel-types.
All ways to get Metal Coat in Pokémon Legends: Z-A
There are three in-game methods to obtain Metal Coat:
- Reward from Side Mission 101 “Steadfast as Steel”
- Reward from Side Mission 114 “A Feather from Skarmory”
- Purchased from an NPC in the Racine Construction building (4,980 Pokédollars, unlimited stock)
Every one of these options is gated behind fairly late story progress. The earliest Metal Coats appear around Main Mission 35; the shop and one of the side missions only unlock after you see the end credits.
Metal Coat from Side Mission 101 “Steadfast as Steel”
Side Mission 101, titled “Steadfast as Steel”, is one of the first late-game opportunities to grab a Metal Coat.
Key points:
- Mission ID: 101
- Name: “Steadfast as Steel”
- Availability: Appears around Main Mission 35
- Reward: 1× Metal Coat
Step 1: Progress the main story until you reach roughly Main Mission 35. Side Mission 101 does not appear earlier.
Step 2: Check your side mission board and the usual quest-giver spots in Lumiose City. When “Steadfast as Steel” becomes available, accept it.
Step 3: Follow the mission instructions to completion. When you turn in the objective, you receive a Metal Coat as a reward.
Metal Coat from Side Mission 114 “A Feather from Skarmory”
Side Mission 114, “A Feather from Skarmory”, is another single-use way to get a Metal Coat before relying on the shop. It appears very late in the game.
Key points:
- Mission ID: 114
- Name: “A Feather from Skarmory”
- Typical availability: After the main story credits (or very close to the endgame at Rank A)
- Location to start: NPC near the entrance to Wild Zone 17
- Reward: 1× Metal Coat
Step 1: Reach the late-game portion of the story. This mission appears near or after the point you roll credits and reach high rank (Rank A).
Step 2: Go to the entrance of Wild Zone 17 in Lumiose City. Look for an NPC quest-giver standing near the gate; this character offers Side Mission 114 “A Feather from Skarmory”.
Step 3: Accept the mission and travel into Wild Zone 17. You will be asked to deal with a Skarmory encounter.
Step 4: Explore Wild Zone 17 and follow the mission prompts. The structure is straightforward: interact with the marked spot, handle the Skarmory battle, then return to the NPC.
Step 5: Turn in the completed mission to receive one Metal Coat.
Buying Metal Coat at Racine Construction (unlimited copies)
Once you are in the postgame, Metal Coat becomes fully repeatable through a vendor in the Racine Construction building in Lumiose City.
Key points:
- Location: Racine Construction headquarters in Lumiose City
- Unlock: Postgame, after seeing the story credits; Racine Construction becomes a fast travel point
- Price: 4,980 Pokédollars per Metal Coat
- Stock: Unlimited
Step 1: Finish the main story and watch the end credits. This is required for the special shop to appear.
Step 2: Use fast travel to go to Racine Construction once it is available as a travel destination. The building is near Gare de Lumiose and just south of Restaurant Le Nah.
Step 3: Enter Racine Construction and walk into the main warehouse/garage area. You will see two workers standing close to each other inside.
Step 4: Speak to the worker on the left. This NPC sells special evolution items, including Metal Coat.
Step 5: Purchase as many Metal Coats as you need for 4,980 Pokédollars each.
Which Pokémon need Metal Coat to evolve
Metal Coat is used for two trade-based evolutions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A:
| Base Pokémon | Requirement | Evolution |
|---|---|---|
| Scyther | Trade while holding Metal Coat | Scizor |
| Onix | Trade while holding Metal Coat | Steelix |
Both Scizor and Steelix also have Mega Evolution forms in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, so getting their evolutions set up is important for filling the Pokédex and for team-building in the endgame.
How to use Metal Coat to evolve Scyther and Onix
The game keeps the classic trade evolution rules for Metal Coat evolutions. The item does not work like a stone you simply use from your bag.
Step 1: Make sure you have at least one Metal Coat in your satchel, obtained through a side mission or the Racine Construction shop.
Step 2: Choose the Pokémon to evolve — either Scyther or Onix — and open its summary to give it a held item.
Step 3: Assign Metal Coat as the held item for that Pokémon.
Step 4: Initiate a trade with another player while your Scyther or Onix is holding the Metal Coat. The evolution triggers during the trade.
Step 5: Coordinate with your trade partner so they send your newly evolved Scizor or Steelix back to you.
Why Metal Coat feels “late” in Legends: Z-A
Many players encounter a bottleneck when they catch or shiny-hunt Scyther or Onix early, only to discover that Metal Coat is not accessible until they are deep into the Lumiose story. Side missions 101 and 114 appear late in the mission list, and the Racine Construction shop only comes online once the credits have rolled.
If you are still in the early ranks of the story, there is no reliable in-game way to rush Metal Coat. The practical options are:
- Advance the main missions until Side Mission 101 appears and claim your first Metal Coat.
- Push all the way into late-game and postgame to unlock both Side Mission 114 and the Racine Construction vendor.
- Arrange an online trade with another player who already has Metal Coats and is willing to send one.
Planning around that timing helps avoid frustration if you are investing hours hunting a shiny Scyther or Onix: the evolution step will only come together once the story is far enough along.
